From the time we are small children, we’ve all heard some fantastic (and at times, pretty wild) tales featuring a wide variety of interesting and sometimes far-fetched characters. These stories, sometimes called Fairytales, aren’t really necessarily about “fairies” at all. In fact, these storybook tales that we’ve all grown up with are filled with stories of giants, trolls, gnomes, elves, goblins, dwarves as well as knights in shining armor with an inevitable princess or female heroine usually thrown into the fray as well.

Although these stories are primarily directed at children, sometimes the potential for great misdeeds or acts of extreme violence are all part of the basic plot of the story. One compelling read through of Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood can send literal shivers down ones spine with the implied potential for grave danger. Usually by extreme good fortune and a narrow bit of good luck, disaster (aka a very gruesome ending) is averted. This is why the term “fairy tale ending” came to be. Without many exceptions, the fairytale does usually end happily--but not without sending off it’s somewhat ominous warning to the reader.

Fairytales have been around for hundreds of years and likely were told and retold throughout time--becoming better, juicier and more vivid with each telling. Ancient people tended to be very superstitious anyway and it’s likely that these somewhat tall tales were a way for those people to express their fears and anxieties about what was happening in their world. Today we view fairytales in a much more simpler light. We consider them to be great classic stories with rich folklore attached to them, but we also realize of course that they are heavily doused in fiction.

No matter who you are or what your age group is, you are likely familiar with most all of the great heroes, heroines and bad guys that star in fairytales. These characters are amazingly fun to recreate via costumes because not only is everyone familiar with who they are but they have unique characteristics attached to them that make for an exciting dress up opportunity. From the Big Bad Wolf to Little Bo Peep, you are going to find a storybook character from the many in our collection that will bring out part of your inner child. Bring a “happily ever after” ending to your next dress up event with one of these amazing family friendly Fairytale or Storybook character costumes!